CD-ROM Review: Stock Shopping on CD

Not quite blue chip

Stan Diehl

If ever there were a marriage made in cyberheaven, it's the Internet and stock trading. Traders require the kind of dynamic, up-to-the-minute access to information that the Internet delivers. The Stock Shop with Peter Lynch combines multimedia presentations with an on-line link to financial data.

In a set of solid tutorials, Lynch, former manager of Fidelity Magellan Fund, uses audio narration, video clips, and slick interactive worksheets to cover basic terminology, financial analysis, and key market determinants.

Lynch looks for a tangible reason to invest in a stock, what he calls a company's "story." You build a company's story by analyzing financial num bers, by considering the corporate vision, and by using your own knowledge and experience. Through an Internet link, The Stock Shop captures dynamic financial data and flows the information into well-organized tables .

The Stock Shop is an effective tool, but the program should poll various news services for items directly related to selected companies. I also wanted more information about on-line trading, perhaps even a link to an on-line broker. In the marriage of Internet and stock trading, The Stock Shop comes up a little shy of a full commitment.

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Product Information

The Stock Shop........................$69.95
 
(plus $6.95/month for stock 
downloads through Telescan)
Houghton Mifflin Interactive
Internet: 
http://www.hminet.com


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Taking Stock of Your Investments

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